Hybrid absorbent foam and articles containing it

US8158689B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Andrew T. Baker · Norcross, US
• Timothy James Blenke · Neenah, US
• Charles W. Colman · Roswell, US
• Edward A. Colombo · Penfield, US
• Jeffrey E. Fish · Dacula, US
• Kaiyuan Yang · Houston, US
• Michael J. Garvey · Appleton, US
• Jeffrey Krueger · Crandon, US
• Mary F. Mallory · Atlanta, US
• Joseph E. Pierce · Appleton, US
• Fred R. Radwanski · Norcross, US
• Sridhar Ranganathan · Suwanee, US
• Donald E. Waldroup · Roswell, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 22, 2005
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2012
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/249953
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A hybrid absorbent foam includes an integrated hybrid foam layer having an open surface, a closed surface, and a foam body extending between the open and closed surfaces. The integrated hybrid foam layer has an open-cell content of at least 50%, while the closed surface provides a barrier to aqueous liquids. The integrated hybrid foam layer is formed as a single layer, and has a substantially uniform polymer composition throughout its thickness. The integrated hybrid foam layer combines the functions of liquid absorbency, retention, and barrier into a single layer, and is useful in a wide variety of absorbent articles.